Kathyann’s WRAP Story

My own journey from physical and mental health disabilities was a challenging disheartening journey but I survived. As I began to hear glimmers of stories about what people called WRAP and I became curious and began to follow the plan for myself.

When our agency started the Peer Support Program I learned about WRAP from people who were using it in our educational programs. That was nine years ago.

Since then we have partnered with the State and others we began to make WRAP a reality. When the state sponsored a WRAP Facilitators class, I was selected. As I became a WRAP Facilitator, we began offering WRAP groups and started doing Wellness Festivals where we engaged residents with activities that were built around the Key Concepts.

For myself when I faced challenges of loss of my daughter and more complex medical challenges, it would have been easy to give up, instead I used my WRAP tool to work for me. I used visualization and colors to embrace life, at a time when grief and loss surrounded me. I used pictures to define for myself the realities of living a life with chronic illness rather that giving the illness control over my life.

Now I am an ALF Facilitator. Our agency has a vision of the steps to make WRAP work, and I am working with our agency, county and region. What a journey of reclaiming my life it has been!!!!

Mary Ellen Copeland and her staff cannot address personal mental health problems and issues. We care very much about your concerns but we must focus our efforts on education and resource development. For more information on how to get help for yourself or the people you are supporting, please use the resources on this website.